The Brain at Rest

by Joseph Jebelli

ISBN: 9781911709343

Published: 2025-06-26

I'd got a fair share of surprise and scepticism when I told people I was writing a book about the brain at rest. The idea seemed to defy gravity. It was too radical. Too impractical. Some would laugh it off as a luxury while others would nod along perfunctorily. But as I shared the profound scientific benefits of intentional rest, the resistance often gave way to curiosity, sometimes even relief. When was the last time you let yourself do nothing - not scrolling while eating a sandwich, but nothing at all? We are constantly told to make the most of our time. Stop procrastinating. Don't sleep more than 7.5 hours a night. Optimise. To be happy, creative and successful requires discipline and focus. The most important thing is to be efficient with every precious hour. But when we let our minds wander, something magical happens: blood flow to the brain increases by 90 per cent, and suddenly we are able to think in completely new ways. Dr Joseph Jebelli reveals how neuroscience is...